Salat al Istikhara

I am ms. indecisive. Ms. it take lots of deliberation and thinking before I can decide what I will eat for lunch. For a person like me, salat al istikhara is a life saver. For a while now I've been confused about a matter that is very dear to me and alhamdulilah duaa al istikhara was the most perfect solution to my issue. If you've never attempted to pray istikhara for a matter of importance to you, you are truly missing out. Istikhara means to "seek goodness" from Allah swt, so by asking Allah for goodness you are asking for his guidance on whether the matter is good for you or not. The prophet pbuh said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer)." [Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 263] This is how you pray salat al istikhara.

First pray Two Cycles (raka'). In the first raka' after Surah Fatiha recite Surah al-Kafirun (Chapter 109) and in the second raka' after Fatiha recite Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112). After finishing prayer recite the duaa of istikhara

TRANSLATION: "O Allah! I seek goodness from Your Knowledge and with Your Power (and Might) I seek strength, and I ask from You Your Great Blessings, because You have the Power and I do not have the power. You Know everything and I do not know, and You have knowledge of the unseen. Oh Allah! If in Your Knowledge this action ------------------------------------------------ (which I intend to do) is better for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then make it destined for me and make it easy for me and then add blessings [baraka'] in it, for me. O Allah! In Your Knowledge if this action is bad for me, bad for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and whatever is better for me, ordain [destine] that for me and then make me satisfied with it."

Source

The Day I Died [A Fictional Story]

We constantly hear that life is short. Sadly we won't truly understand how short our lives are until they're over. A story such as this may put death into perspective for us.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "The most intelligent person is the one who remembers death often." 

I only lived 26 years. My 27th birthday was exactly 2 weeks away. I always imagined I would live long. At least until age 60. It wasn’t imaginable that I would have such a sudden death. I had graduated from university of south California three years earlier with a degree that means absolutely nothing right now. Shortly after I landed a job as the marketing director of a major clothing company. Aside from the usual life problems, I was living a normal life. My girlfriend of 4 years was starting to pressure me into us getting a place together. I knew I wasn’t supposed to have a girlfriend in the first place but I enjoyed her company and friendship. I wasn’t ready to give that up. I used to always tell my self that eventually id marry her. Plus what would these few years of living a sinful life mean by the time I got older. My job, girlfriend and life long friend took up the majority of my time. It seemed I never had time to offer salah. I hardly had time to sit down and eat. Offering salah was something that continuously bugged me. The more I postponed my salahs, the more it irritated me. I did give an effort to keep up on my salah. But for the last 2 years of my life I gave up. I pretty much stopped making salah altogether.

I never made it home in time to make salah. SAW 3 was a walk through the rose garden compared to what I was about to experience. I was doing about 85 on the 10 freeway. At 12 midnight, 85mph is not considered speeding. Omar flipped through the FM radio stations searching for a song he liked. Malik had fallen asleep in the back seat. I began to dose off too. I used to hate when that happened. I shook out of what seemed like a 10 second snooze. I tried to keep my eyes open. But again I dozed off. Omar screamed, “HEY!” it was too late. The car struck the center divider and spun back into the flow of traffic. An oncoming car hit my door. That car was also hit by another vehicle. We finally came to a halt somewhere in the middle of the freeway, hundred yards from the spot of the collision. I didn’t feel any pain. I was just dizzy. I heard Omar and Malik moaning as good civilians tried to pull us out from the wreck.
I wasn’t rescued until the firefighters arrived. It was quite a task recovering my battered body from my totalled car. Breathing became difficult. The fire fighters huddled around me and frantically applied device after device . “He’s not gonna make it,” I heard one of them say. I’m not gonna make it? How? I didn’t feel like I was dying. I felt nothing. My heart started pounding. I was soaked in blood and sweat. I saw Malik standing over me with tears in his eyes. “Don’t quit on me”, he told me. At that time I knew it was over. I started to cry. The fire fighters moved him away as they made last attempts to revive me. I died. An angel came to me and removed my soul. I watched him fly away with it in disbelief. “How could you? I’m not even 27,” I pleaded. “Its time,” he told me and left. Two minutes later they pulled a white sheet over me. Omar and Malik, apparently doing better than me, pulled the sheet back to look at me one last time. They cried their eyeballs out. I had known them since I was 13 years old and had never seen either of them cry. It was a depressing sight.
The ride to the morgue, until then, was the worst experience I ever had. I was alone. It was dark and cold. I really missed my mom. I missed my brother. I missed my sister. I wished I had spent the night with my family instead of with Omar and Malik. I worried what my mother was going to do when she saw me in this state. I was ugly. When we finally arrived, I was placed in another cold room with dozens of other dead people. I missed my family so much. Every so often a family came in to view their dead. I wasn’t. Hour after hour passed. No mom. No dad. I started to cry again. Then one odd hour I recognized voices. My father walked in with my mother in his arms. His face worn from stress. Hers wet with tears. They cried. I stared back. I wanted to tell them I loved them. I couldn’t. I wanted to hug them. I couldn’t. Mom stroked my bloodied hair and left.
I was to be buried the next day. When my parents left, it hit me. I never made Isha! My heart jumped out of my chest. I owed Allah a salah and failed to deliver it to him. I had hundreds of missed salahs over the past 2 years. Now I was about to face him. I felt powerless. For those of you who have never experienced guilt at death, there is not a worldly feeling that amounts to it. It is a guilt and sorrow at another level. I tried getting up to make Isha but I couldn’t move. It was over. I had no second chance.
Then I began to think back I never knew my memory was so good. I had more than enough time to ponder my burial. I literally remembered every salah I missed and the reasons I missed them. Most were laziness, procrastination and neglectfulness. I knew I was in trouble. I wish they would take longer to bury me. I failed. I failed. I failed.
My girlfriend paid me a visit, she was a devil. When I was alive I saw her as an angel. My pretty angel who loved me and who would do anything to make me happy. If I had the ability I would have cursed her and demanded her to leave the morgue. She put her hand on my forehead. I had allowed her to do that for the past four years. Now that I apposed to it I could do nothing about it. The devil cried for hours at my side. She would just not leave. I felt cheated, I felt like she pulled a prank on me for the past couple years of my life. I hated this devil, she was ugly, she smelled horrible. She finally left as she walked out the door, my heart was filled with fear and anxiety.
The funeral was simple. My body was washed, I didn’t seem to care about my naked body being exposed. My worries far surpassed my desire to be modest. I was wrapped in 3 white sheets. About 3 hundred people attended my funeral, I was saddened not to see my mom at the funeral. I wish she came to see me one last time before they put me in the ground. I never knew so many people cared about me, many just stared at the tightly wrapped figure in disbelief. Others cried, and cried some more.
The mass prayed for me. Thousands of individual prayers were made. They asked Allah to have mercy on me. They asked him to forgive me. I wanted to pray for myself. But I couldn’t speak, I was helpless. I was carried to the whole in the middle of the barren desert. The people followed, it seemed like slow motion. I didn’t want to go. If I had 24 bonus hours I would pray nonstop. They lowered my into the ground. The anticipation was eating away at me. I had surely failed in life. I thought back on everything I had worked so hard to accomplish. I earned a college degree, I had a well paying job. I spent hours and hours in the weight room since I was 16 developing my body. I had a pretty girlfriend who loved me. In that life it was a badge of honor. 
But as they were lowering me into the grave, which seemed like it took forever, I realized I couldn’t use any of those accomplishments.
If only I had been that dedicated to making salah five times a day, daily. I would have been at peace right now. Instead I am a nervous wreck beyond anything you all can comprehend.
Dirt fell on the whole, darkness overcame my new home. The last shovel of sand filled the grave. Everyone sadly walked away. The graveyard started to empty. Family by family, mine was the last to leave. The attendant left. By nightfall it was just me, all alone. My wrapping was soaking in sweat. I nervously awaited the angels to come question me. They finally did. My final judgment has not been reached yet. I am waiting for judgment day. Still laying here alone as day comes and night falls. Soon I will meet Allah, himself and he will decide whether to forgive me or not. I can only lay here, and wait. Wait in hope the All forgiving, the Most merciful forgives me and does not punish me. I hope. This is all I have right now. Hope.

Source: theidealmuslimah

Don't Forget to Say It

Don't forget to say this duaa upon breaking your fast :)

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ امنْتُ وَ عَلى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ

Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘ala rizq-ika aftarthu

O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance

[abu Dawud]

Ramadan Check List

Print it out, stick it on your desk, and grab a pen. This isn't only beneficial for Ramadan, but year round. 

Ramadan Preparations

We are down to the final days before Ramadan. SubhanAllah, it's crazy how almost a year has passed since last Ramadan. I had an amazing Ramadan last year alhamdulilah. I witnessed a beautiful shahada of a sister I barely knew at the time, but quickly grew to love. I also enjoyed many iftars at the masjid with my university family. InshAllah my Ramadan and yours will be even more blessed than last year. In order to make our Ramadan this year even more productive...we must prepare for it. Yasir Birjas gave ten points for achieving excellence during Ramadan. 

1. Have hunger for success: Whatever expectation you have for yourself, you will achieve 80% of that expectation. Don’t make failure an option this Ramadan, have that desire and hunger for success.
2. Set your goals: When you set your goals this Ramadan, set them high! Allah swt set the Ultimate goal for you- and that’s Firdous Al Aa’la insha’Allah! Not only should you set these goals, but commit to them as well.
3. Build confidence this Ramadan: Don’t listen to everyone else if they’re trying to bring you down or if they criticize you on the changes you’re making. But also don’t beat yourself down or be hard on yourself if you fall short of a goal.
4. Do what you love to do: Choose a deed that you like to do and increase it this Ramadan. Whether it be reading the Quran, cooking/feeding people, Qiyaam Al Alail, or even being in seclusion and worshiping your Lord. Increase those deeds in Ramadan. The Prophet PBUH wants us to do deeds that are continuous even if they’re small.
5. Study the successful: Not just study, but learn from those who are more knowledgeable. It will encourage and motivate you to be better insha’Allah. The best examples are the Prophets and Companions. Read stories about them and insha’Allah their amazing characteristics and struggles will motivate you. 
6. Be in company of the successful: There’s no doubt the people you associate yourself with will have an influence on you-whether it be a good or a bad influence. If you want to achieve, look for high achievers. Catching their habits is contagious and insha’Allah this will also motivate you to be better.
7. Go all out and work hard: Be serious about your achievements and make them a priority. This Ramadan insha’Allah be a lot more focused on those changes you are trying to make, you never know if this is your last Ramadan or not.
8. Be prepared to change your schedule: Obviously your daily schedule will have to change during Ramadan. At least expect it to change and don’t get back into the habit of your old schedule as The Month progresses. But adapt to your schedule at your own comfort. Also, never make things back-to-back and crowd up your schedule; you never know when an emergency might come up. 
9. Remind yourself of the virtues of what you’re achieving: You can go about this several ways. One, you could go to someone who you know will be a constant reminder to you, or you can just simply keep reminding yourself. Remind yourself that our deeds weigh more during This Month and you may not get another chance like that again! “And Remind for verily a reminder benefits the believer”(51:55) 
10. Never give up: Shaitan is good at making us give up good things, but during this month, shaitan will be locked up so the battle is between you and yourself-never tell yourself you can’t do it. If you have faith in Allah, never give up. Do good until the very last second of The Month of Ramadan, even if you fall a bit short, do not give up!!

Source: forthesakeofAllah

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The Real Muslims of Dearborn

I'm a self proclaimed reality show addict. I'm a bit obsessed with Teen Mom, Say Yes to the Dress, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, plus some other shows. To make myself feel like i'm actually learning something, I like to watch reality shows and learn how other people live their lives. TLC has finally come to their senses and has announced a new reality show that follows the lives of all-American Muslims from Dearborn, Michigan. Dearborn is known to have one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States. I'm super stoked for this show. I think it's going to have a powerful impact on Americans and hopefully alter their views on Islam and prove that Muslims are ordinary people--that is if the show is carefully executed in good taste. The show will focus on the lives of  Shadia and Suehaila, Muslim sisters that differ in many ways. Suehaila is a practicing Muslim that wears the head scarf and prays five times a day, while Shadia has tattoos and piercings and is married to a Irish Catholic that is planning to convert to Islam. Newlyweds Nadar and Nawal are also participants in the show and are having a baby while trying to find a balance between their traditional culture and American culture. Finally, Mike, Deputy Chief for the Wayne County Sheriff's Department constantly works to educate the department about his efforts to reduce discrimination and prejudice against Muslims. The reality show will be debuting in November so stay tuned for its premiere. 

Five Hijabi Favorites

This is a quick list of my top five favorite hijabi items. All are items that can easily be put together. I love simple and classy outfits with a high fashion touch. Wear these items how ever you like and don't be afraid to experiment with the different ways you can pair them. 

1. Harem Pants

Source: Walk the Talk

2. Maxi Skirt

Source: Mona Bok-Tash Fashionable Hijab

3. Black long sleeve Maxi Dress

Source: Hijab Stylized 
4. Blazer

Source: Yuna Zarai
5. Long Cardigan

Source: ynaZ

Bon Appetit

My mom is in Sudan for the summer, so guess who does the cooking? My dad, my sister, and I split up the cooking throughout the week. Yesterday was my night to make dinner and I thought why not make pizza and a pasta dish. I don't cook very often, but now that I've had practice making real food, I find cooking and baking to be fun. I like being creative and putting something together that people actually appreciate. I'm not gonna lie, it feels nice when I make something and the plates come back empty. The pizza and pasta was a success Alhamdulilah. On to the next dish!

BBQ Chicken & veggie pizza

Baked pasta with green peppers and mozzarella cheese 

Appearance can be deceiving